Sweetness is missing from the plates of 8.95 lakh poor people of Jharkhand. They have not been able to get sugar for six months. They do not expect to get sugar during Durga Puja. Antyodaya families associated with the ‘National Food Security Act’ are provided one kilogram of sugar per family at a subsidized rate. At present this scheme is being operated with revolving fund. Jharkhand State Food and Civil Supplies Corporation Limited (JSFC) had floated a tender for the purchase of sugar from April 2023.
The company was also selected for this. Meanwhile, the market price of sugar increased. After this the supplier company did not enter into an agreement with JSFC. After this, the department blacklisted the concerned company and confiscated the advance amount. Now JSFC has floated a tender for the purchase of sugar for the second quarter. It will take at least a month to complete this process. In such a situation, there is less possibility of the poor getting sugar in the month of October.
Tender issued again for purchase of 27 thousand quintals of sugar:
JSFC has floated a tender through GeM portal for sugar purchase from July to September. The last date for submission of tender has been fixed as 16th October. About 27 thousand quintals of sugar will be purchased for distribution among the poor. 2701 quintals of sugar will be purchased for Palamu division, 7,527 quintals for North Chhotanagpur division, 5,959 quintals for South Chhotanagpur division, 5557 quintals for Kolhan division and 5069 quintals for Santal Pargana division.
Three months advance was taken from ration dealers:
An advance of three rupees was taken from JSFC for the period from April to June for the distribution of sugar to the Antyodaya family, but due to lack of agreement from the supplier company, they did not receive the sugar.
After L One, the supplier company did not come to enter into an agreement with JSFC. The advance amount has been confiscated by blacklisting the company. Now a fresh tender has been floated.
Dilip Tirkey, Director, JSFC